Friday, December 12, 2008

2010: Make or Break for Iowa Republicans

There was a lot of talk after the devastating elections of 2006 that the 2008 contests were of critical importance. While I thought they were important, I have long thought that the 2010 elections will determine if Iowa is a blue, red or purple state.

Even with gains in the State Senate, and House, Iowa Democrats thought they were going to fair much better on November 4th than they did. That’s good news for Republicans, many GOP insiders feel that we have reached bottom and are beginning to rebound. So while that’s good news, I think Iowa Republicans need to be prepared to defend three seats in Iowa they might otherwise overlook.

With King and Latham proving that they are entrenched in their congressional districts Iowa democrats will probably only put up token opposition to them in 2010. It is my belief that they will target our state wide officials in an effort to make Iowa a solid blue state. There is no doubt Iowa Democrats will do whatever it takes to see Chet Culver reelected, but Grassley, Vaudt, and Northey better be prepared for stiff competition.

While former Governor Tom Vilsack was obviously disappointed that he wasn’t tabbed for a cabinet post in the Obama administration, so was I. Vilsack is an obvious candidate to run against Senator Grassley. DailyKos recently had Research 2000 conduct a poll of a likely Grassley v. Vilsack 2010 matchup.The results are sobering Grassley: 48%Vilsack: 44%Grassley Approve 57 Disapprove 36Vilsack Approve 55 Disapprove 36

Now I have to remind you that Research 2000 was the same group that had Becky Greenwald within 5 points when Latham’s internals showed him with a 22 point lead.There is no doubt that a poll like this is done to encourage Vilsack to run, but Iowa Republicans must be prepared. Sure the 2008 elections just ended, but we have a lot of work to do; and a lot on the line in 2010.

Grassley is going to be graded by his votes and resistance to the Obama administration these next two years. He can stand firm for our party or he can pull a Leach and we'll lose him for sure. I he stands firm, I'll work my fingers to the bone for him, if he plays it safe, then he's gone and our state loses it's final shades of red.

"The reality is it (bipartisanship) cannot be the case in every instance," Grassley said. "Sometimes if we as the minority cannot work things out, it is then our responsibility to be the loyal opposition, with emphasis on loyal. That means we have to have (policy) alternatives."

10:13 (Matt's water boy...)What a huge "whiff" that was!Don't get me wrong, Matt is a good candidate but the korrect answer is: Republicans need to start acting like Republicans...again!Can't make it any simpler and that applies to the mighty Senator Grassley as well!

10:46 - That's not where my "whiff" was directed. I too watched the video, read the blog and the 100 day plan. Good stuff.Can someone produce a stronger product? That remains to be seen.I'll be offended if the other kandidates produce "me too" plans that copy cat Matt's vision.

The RPI director is not the final solution to our problems, that was the direction of the reply.

By the way, I see that the Senate grew a pair with the auto bailout and I also hear Kraig Paulsen just landed a good punch on the Dems today with a great press release about spending. Man, this is really encouraging!! Can we please have some more?

Tibby, the problem is more complex than simply Republican must act like Republicans again. Danny Carroll acted like a Republican and got waxed, so did Van Fossen, and Dan Rassmussen. Meanwhile Kent Sorenson won in a worse district acting like a Republican. Focus on the messenger. Kent worked his tail off and it worked. The whole party machine is broken. No money, no leadership, SOME mediocre candidates. We need a total plan overhaul. So far Strawn is the only one who put forth ideas on how to go forward. I am anxious to see what everyone else has to offer, this will be difficult to beat. I will be very disappointed in my SCC if they go with a mediocre plan because they are friends with someone.

Strawn's campaign is impressive and this is what we need statewide for all Republican candidates.

By the time the next two years are over both the state of Iowa and the country are going to be so bankrupt from these Democrats controlling the whole ball of wax, Democrats will be running for the hills.

Republicans need to go loaded for bear.

If Strawn is the new chairman he needs to be extremely conscious of voter fraud.

Now Soros is going to go after Secretary of State seats.

The American people must figure it out that most of the corruption that we've had here in Iowa with CIETC and now the Chicago are all Democrats.

It is Democrats (most of them now involved in the Obama administration or still in congress) who are responsible for the housing crisis.

They enriched themselved while pressuring lending institutions to make loans to people who did not have the means with which to pay back the loans.

Now they're wanting to bailout unprofitable automobile manufacturers who just happen to have thousands of United Auto Workers union members who finance the Democrat party.

If these auto companies are not profitable now, why does anyone believe they'll be profitable with more money thrown at them.

Where does this end? These bailouts are going to make everyone poor.

At least we have two Republicans, King and Latham who have brains and the ability to see long term.

Well, as long as they weren’t done by Eagle Media they should be at least somewhat close. “Miller-Meeks is within 3 points of Dave Loebsack and we’re gonna win!” Yeah, right … You guys only missed that one by what? 16%?